Craft & Clay: Discover Tokoname’s Pottery Heritage and Teatime Traditions
Experience Overview
This one-day tour takes you into the heart of Tokoname’s ceramic heritage.
Begin with a visit to a teapot kiln where you’ll enjoy a hands-on tea brewing experience using Tokoname ware. Then, dive into pottery-making yourself at Kakuzan Tōen, a kiln with over a century of history. Wrap up with a walk along the scenic Tokonbame Pottery Footpath, where narrow lanes reveal galleries, climbing kilns, and quaint stores.
It’s a journey through craftsmanship, tradition, and the warm hospitality of Tokoname.
Experience Description
– Meet at Nagoya Station
Gather with your guide at the Nagoya Station Tourist Information Center before taking the Meitetsu train to Tokoname.
– Teapot Kiln Visit and Tea Experience
Visit a working teapot workshop and learn about the Tokoname teapot tradition. Brew and taste green tea using a Tokoname kyūsu teapot, guided by a local craftsman. Seasonal wagashi sweets included.
– Pottery Experience at Kakuzan Tōen
Choose the type of ceramic piece you’d like to create and receive personal instruction from a potter. Your piece will be fired and shipped to you later (shipping fee paid on-site in cash).
– Walk the Tokoname Pottery Footpath
Stroll the Pottery Footpath through Tokoname’s historic ceramic district. Browse shops, admire traditional kilns, and enjoy the local atmosphere. Option to enjoy lunch or shopping here and end the tour on-site.1
– Return to Nagoya Station
(Optional)Guests not staying in Tokoname will return together with the guide by train. Alternatively, you can explore freely using an English map.
Inclusions
Included
Professional, English-speaking guide
Public transportation fares between attractions
Teapot kiln visit and tea tasting (with sweets)
Pottery workshop at Kakuzan Tōen
Not Included
Transportation to the meeting point
Shipping fee for your completed pottery
Customs duties or import taxes (if applicable)
Personal shopping
Guide gratuities (optional)
What to Bring
Wear comfortable clothing suitable for sitting and working with clay
Comfortable walking shoes
Cash to cover the shipping fee for your completed pottery piece (¥4,000–¥10,000, depending on your region) and for any personal purchases (some shops are cash only).
Location
Tokoname
